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Catalogue information
LastDodo number
5521495
Area
Drawings / paintings
Title
Bachelors’ Trials
Artist
Art object
Art Movement / style
Genre
Material
Technique used
Colouring
Dimensions
55 x 35 cm
Series / hero
Collection / set
Number
Addition to number
Year
1941
Country
Language
Details
Original editorial cartoon on board in pen and ink, published in the London Evening News, 1941, as one of the ‘Smiling Through’ series, shows a rather smartly dressed ‘bachelor’ talking to a friend at his club and being approached by a man wearing an ill-fitting suit, to which his response is: ‘I say, look out, here comes another of those dashed married men to touch us for the loan of some shirt coupons’. Clothes were rationed during WW2. Women were however encouraged not to let standards slip too far. There was genuine concern that a lack of interest in personal appearance could be a sign of low morale, which could have a detrimental impact on the war effort. Most of the clothes ration coupons of this ‘married man’ would probably have gone to his wife, so he would end up cadging coupons from for instance ‘bachelors’ who, having no wife, might have extra coupons available. Board size 55 x 35 cm (21.5 x 14 inch), image size 40 x 33 cm, signed lower right, caption pasted on in lower border and dated 2-9-41, numbered 218, in very good condition.